A Couple Of Questions

[SilverT4]

Model is Tspirit.

1. Manual on page 258 refers to the hill start assist function. Apparantly pressing the brake pedal further when stationary should emit a beep and flash the slip indicator but I don't get any of these. Anyone used it succesfully?

2. I leave my display set to the hybrid system indicator and normally on start up after displaying the PRIUS logo, it goes straight to the hsi. However I have noticed that occasionally it goes to the seat belt display (which doesn't even get a mention in the manual). After a few seconds it reverts to the hsi. Anyone else noticed this?

3. I reverse my car up the drive to within a couple of feet of my garage door. I keep an eye on the rear view camera and when the red line (which is 1.5ft from the rear bumper), approaches the base of the garage door I stop. I have noticed occasionally when I get close to the garage door I get one beep and something flashes quickly in the instrument panel, possibly one of the warning lights. However it happens so quickly that I haven't managed to see what flashes. Can't see any reference to this in the manual - and I don't have rear parking sensors. Any ideas?

[martswain]

Also have a T Spirit, with no extras.

1. Yes, have managed to get this to work, hold it on the pedal, relax pressure slightly and then press it rather hard. You then have about 2 seconds to accelerate away. It seems you DO need to be on a hill to make it work.

2. Ah, the mysterious rear seat belt screen !!! Never had it appear randomly, just as the last item before "settings" when moving through the various screens.

3. I will try reversing up to my door and see what happens, results to follow.

Regards from sunny Troon.

[Fujisan]

Model is Tspirit.

1. Manual on page 258 refers to the hill start assist function. Apparantly pressing the brake pedal further when stationary should emit a beep and flash the slip indicator but I don't get any of these. Anyone used it succesfully?

I also gave the brake pedal a good shove at a hill start junction during my extented test drive and just like you didn't get any beeps...but something held the car when I (slowly) lifted my foot of the brake, over to the throttle, so until I can do a bit more experimenting (next week :D ), I'm happy that I'm OK on the local hills.

[Fujisan]

It seems you DO need to be on a hill to make it work.

Maybe I needed more of a hill!

[SilverT4]

3. I will try reversing up to my door and see what happens, results to follow.

Regards from sunny Troon.

Careful you don't go to far ........

[meannotgreen]

Model is Tspirit.

1. Manual on page 258 refers to the hill start assist function. Apparantly pressing the brake pedal further when stationary should emit a beep and flash the slip indicator but I don't get any of these. Anyone used it succesfully?

Yes it works fine. I'm not sure if it beeps but if you press the brake pedal a bit extra after you've stopped the slip indicator comes on and stays on. You then need to keep some pressure on the brake pedal (but not as much as it took to light up the indicator) until you're ready to go. Then when you release the brake pedal the brakes hold for about 2 seconds - enough time to move you're foot to the accelerator and accelerate away.

I'm not sure if you need to be on a hill or not - I've got a feeling you don't.

Sorry can't comment usefully on 2 and 3.

[avensis99]

Model is Tspirit.

1. Manual on page 258 refers to the hill start assist function. Apparantly pressing the brake pedal further when stationary should emit a beep and flash the slip indicator but I don't get any of these. Anyone used it succesfully?

Yes it works fine. I'm not sure if it beeps but if you press the brake pedal a bit extra after you've stopped the slip indicator comes on and stays on. You then need to keep some pressure on the brake pedal (but not as much as it took to light up the indicator) until you're ready to go. Then when you release the brake pedal the brakes hold for about 2 seconds - enough time to move you're foot to the accelerator and accelerate away.

I'm not sure if you need to be on a hill or not - I've got a feeling you don't.

Sorry can't comment usefully on 2 and 3.

FUJISAN

i cannot believe you are new to the principle of hill start, as you have had a rav4 i would have thought you would have used it on that as it is standard on the rav.

[Fujisan]

FUJISAN

i cannot believe you are new to the principle of hill start, as you have had a rav4 i would have thought you would have used it on that as it is standard on the rav.

Being a manual RAV, I just always used the good old fashion handbrake!

[Ikelos]

I must have missed something, I had the Rav4, 03 version, nothing about hill start on that, or have I lost the plot. that was an auto. we now wait for the delivery of a new prius.

[martswain]

3. Reversing

Good news, I did not hit the garage door.

Bad news, nothing beeped or flashed.

I have the annoying continuous beeping when in reverse, must get it to the dealer and get it changed to the singel beep.

[wooski]

Also have a T Spirit, with no extras.

1. Yes, have managed to get this to work, hold it on the pedal, relax pressure slightly and then press it rather hard. You then have about 2 seconds to accelerate away. It seems you DO need to be on a hill to make it work.

It's worth noting though that the standard creep function from the electric motor will hold the car on quite a hill anyway. I drove up thru Highgate Hill yesterday and the road is pretty steep. I tested this out by not using the hill start and the car didn't roll back once. Now with something steeper like a multi storey carpark ramp it would certainly roll, so the hill start is ideal for those situations. But you certainly get away with it in situations you would have to hand brake start with a manual.

[Fujisan]

...but something held the car when I (slowly) lifted my foot of the brake, over to the throttle,

It's worth noting though that the standard creep function from the electric motor will hold the car on quite a hill anyway.

That must have been it! :D Thanks wooski

I knew I hadn't imagined it.

[Mkuk0]

Interesting this thread. Is the hill start function on T spirit only? Cos I can't get it to work on my T4

[timberwolf]

The hill start gizmo was introduced on the Prius Gen 3 (aka 2010).

[Mkuk0]

Doh! that'll be why then

[tone_uk]

Model is Tspirit.

1. Manual on page 258 refers to the hill start assist function. Apparantly pressing the brake pedal further when stationary should emit a beep and flash the slip indicator but I don't get any of these. Anyone used it succesfully?

2. I leave my display set to the hybrid system indicator and normally on start up after displaying the PRIUS logo, it goes straight to the hsi. However I have noticed that occasionally it goes to the seat belt display (which doesn't even get a mention in the manual). After a few seconds it reverts to the hsi. Anyone else noticed this?

3. I reverse my car up the drive to within a couple of feet of my garage door. I keep an eye on the rear view camera and when the red line (which is 1.5ft from the rear bumper), approaches the base of the garage door I stop. I have noticed occasionally when I get close to the garage door I get one beep and something flashes quickly in the instrument panel, possibly one of the warning lights. However it happens so quickly that I haven't managed to see what flashes. Can't see any reference to this in the manual - and I don't have rear parking sensors. Any ideas?

Hiya

1. You can use the extra sooper dooper hill start assist at any time - i can vouch for that as I live in Norfolk, and it doesn't come any flatter than the roads round here!

When at a stop you tend to have the pedal at approx 75% of the full downward range, it resists naturally at this point. If you gently push down further for about 2 seconds you will hear the beep and see the slip light come on. The brakes are now locked until you release the brake pedal, and for a further 2 seconds, unless you accelerate enough for the brakes to release.

2. The rear seatbelt reminder screen will activate automatically if you open one of the rear passenger doors, even if nobody got in and sat down.

3. I've seen the flash of text too when reversing close up to something - I think it's part of the park assist function that thinks it should display, but then gets deleted as it realises you are not using park assist - just the camera.

That's my 10p worth anyway - LOL